Former world snooker champion Stuart Bingham has been banned from the sport for six months with three suspended for breaching betting regulations.

Bingham, 41, admitted breaking World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) rules on betting on matches involving other players and has been ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.

A WPBSA statement read: "On Oct. 11 there was a second hearing to determine sanction, where the decision of the Committee was that Stuart Bingham serve a six month period of suspension effective from Oct. 28.

"Of this period three months and one day are suspended until Oct. 31 subject to Stuart Bingham confirming that he will comply with any course of medical treatment recommended to him regarding his gambling and will commit no further rule breaches.

"This means that Stuart Bingham will serve an immediate suspension from Oct. 28 until Jan. 26 and the remainder of the six month periods of disqualification (three months and one day) will not be enforced provided he complies with the conditions identified above and provided also he is not found to have committed any similar breaches during the period ending Oct. 31."